Trimming weight for more horizontal position

[ciaka]

I have a jacket BCD, which contains quick MRS (Mechanical Release System) for jettison weights.
These are located at bcd sides. At depth, I do not recall having any position issues, but when I ascend, I feel that sometimes I fight the bcd for positioning. The bcd prefers me to be more horizontal, where I would prefer a bit more vertical position. I feel I have more control over buoyancy in that position when coming up.
Maybe it is my habits/training, maybe not.

I was wondering of suitable solution for this situation.
Should I put some small trim weight on back of tank (low down on a cam belt)?
Should I move some of the weight to upper portion of the bcd, in small pouches?
Should I change my habits for ascent?
Anything else that can help?

Greatly appreciate input.

 

[BazzaB]

The best position for decend and ascend is horizontal. (And during the dive btw )
What type of BCD is it ? Wing Style ?

 

[ciaka]

The bcd is a jacket style, single tank. Mares hybrid at mrs.
It has quick release weight system on each side (pull handle to jettison weight if needed), and just noticed it does have some small pockets for trim weights about mid way from bottom, very near the back plate near tank area, one on each side. Could fit maybe 2lb into each side.
It has pneumatic system for inflation and also deflation, with multiple valves at various locations, so one can purge in any position.

 

[Bubblesong]

Just a thought, if you are horizontal, all of your body is at same pressure while slowly decompressing.

 

[guruboy]

Weight pockets located around the hips usually make you more bottom heavy and more vertical.

Trim pockets up higher will usually help balance that and keep you horizontal.

Can you go vertical while not ascending and maintain that position?

 

[rek_diver]

Just a thought, if you are horizontal, all of your body is at same pressure while slowly decompressing.

I guess that's true, but so what?

 

[Coop42]

"The bcd prefers me to be more horizontal, where I would prefer a bit more vertical position. I feel I have more control over buoyancy in that position when coming up."

I think that most people on this board (and I'd be one of them) would commend you for ascending horizontally. ;-)

Many people have trouble ascending horizontally with a jacket style BCD.

As Guruboy said, weights in the higher pockets tip you forward/horizontal, and the lower pockets tip you back/vertical...

 

[Bubblesong]

I guess that's true, but so what?

If all of your body is at same pressure, it seems you would have more even decompression. Whenever I hear of people getting skin bends, it is always upper body, so maybe, and this is just theoretical, then legs are not decompressing as well, and as the blood circulates, the hit comes once out of water. Before anyone launches metaphorical mortars at me, it is just a speculation based of people reporting “undeserved hits”.

 

[NorCalDM]

See if you can get a picture or video of yourself in the water that will tell you what you actually look like in the water you may be surprised at what you feel compared to what you look like. Moving some weight towards your shoulders will bring your head down or moving some towards your hips will bring your butt down. You can also move your tank up or down to fine tune this as well but if you get a picture it will give you a starting point. I like to get my rig balanced so I'm comfortable in whatever position I want to be in things get easier if you don't have to fight to stay in a position for me that may not always be horizontal depends on the situation.

 

[rek_diver]

If all of your body is at same pressure, it seems you would have more even decompression. Whenever I hear of people getting skin bends, it is always upper body, so maybe, and this is just theoretical, then legs are not decompressing as well, and as the blood circulates, the hit comes once out of water. Before anyone launches metaphorical mortars at me, it is just a speculation based of people reporting “undeserved hits”.

I can't imagine the 2-3' difference in depth between the upper and lower body as compared to the midsection is going to have any effect on whether a person gets bent.